Gandhi had a scientific mindset and approached health and well-being holistically and systematically through experimentation. He emphasized love, natural remedies, and scientific analysis. While open to medical interventions when necessary, he believed the body could heal itself and most ailments could be addressed through lifestyle changes. Gandhi was also aware of scientific developments and maintained connections with scientists. He would have criticized unsustainable health systems and advocated for prevention through healthy living.

1. Gandhi and Science
*****
The Gandhian Perspective on
Health
Pankaj S. Joshi
Mumbai

3. Plan for the Talk
I. Was Gandhi Scientific Minded?
II. Gandhian Approach to Health
1. Love and Care
2. Back to Nature
3. Scientific Analysis and
Research All the Time
III. Concluding Remarks and suggestions

4. Was Gandhi
Scientific Minded and Logical?
This is a Question frequently Asked
and Hotly Debated

5. The Nature of Science
What is Science?
In its essence, it is the Search for Truth; the
fundamental laws that govern the Universe
In that sense, Gandhi's method had its
scientific basis.

6. Aldous Huxley was among the first to
brand Gandhi and his movements `anti-science':
“Tolstoyan's and Gandhiites tell us to `return to
nature', in other words, abandon science
altogether and live like primitives....the trouble
with this advise is it cannot be followed...
science and technology allowed human
population to double...but they advocate
slaughter...compared to which Timur and Changiz
Khan would look trivial...”

7. Nehru responded to Huxley: “It [Gandhi's] may
not be a correct attitude; its logic may be faulty...”
This was followed up by Indian Science policy
makers and scientists such as Meghnad Saha,
who told Russians that he and his brother
scientists had “as little regard” for Gandhi's
economic and social theories as you
'the Russians' have for Tolstoy...
All in all, Gandhi was branded as entirely
retrograde

8. They made clear divisions: He was some one
who could mobilize masses, and therefore useful
in that way, but he was a `religious man' and
not a `science man', and to that extent
irrelevant in the modern age, with retrograde
views
Even today, these views are shared by a
large section of Indian intelligentsia,
even when they readily acknowledge Gandhi's
ability to mobilize people for freedom movement

9. This is to such an extent that
Science policy writings in India, creating the
Vision of a Future India
thus make no mention of Gandhi
There is in a way a `Missing Gandhi' in the
Science and Intellectual policies of India, and
at the same time there is a missing `Science'
in the Gandhian studies.
This is not good for a healthy intellectual and
cultural growth of the Nation!!

10. The sewing machine, Mahatma Gandhi declared, `
`was one of the few useful things ever invented'.
Was Gandhi always against
Machinery
and
Industrialization?

14. Machines are merely tools
and
Not our Masters...
This image of his being anti-science dates
back from the early days of his book
HIND-SWARAJ
which just completed 100 years in 2009
Probably he just told it too strongly
and it appeared to many that he was plainly
anti-Science

15. Gandhi did not condemn the scientific
temper of west, but he objected to the use of
scientific discoveries against humanity.
It is not realized often that he was a
severe critic of Modern Civilization
but not of Science or Scientific
Method

16. Gandhi's Approach to Health
Love and Care
Back to Nature
Scientific Analysis

17. Love and Care was his Primary
Mantra – Always and Ever
** There are several instances of his attending to
the Seek & Ailing giving that work the Topmost
Priority over All Others VIP engagements...
** The Sabarmati ashram Instance... Treatments
In South Africa and India...
** Services to the Plague affected populations...
He in fact said, “Tending to the Ailing and Seek has
been Very Near and Dear to My Heart...

21. As he explained clearly: “...my life consists of
nothing else but numerous experiments with
truth... If I can narrate them in a dispassionate
and humble spirit...Far be it from me to claim any
degree of perfectness
“I claim for them nothing more than does a
scientist who, though he conducts his
experiments with utmost accuracy, forethought
and minuteness, never claims any finality on
conclusions, but keeps an open mind...
“I have gone through deep self-introspection,
searched myself through and through, and
examined and analysed every situation.”

22. If you study his Thoughts, Actions and
Writings, you find that he analysed and
investigated his own life in same microscopic
manner, going to the minutest details
The same applied to His Work in the
Field of Health
Introspection and going into the
Finest and Minutest Details was
his key strength

25. “Geometry was a new subject in which, I was not
particularly strong...and the English medium
made it still more difficult for me.
When, however, with much effort I reached
thirteenth proposition of Euclid, the utter
simplicity of the subject was suddenly revealed
to me. A subject which only requires a pure and
simple use of one's reasoning power could not be
difficult. Ever since... geometry has been
both easy and interesting for me.”
His was clearly an extremely
Logical Mind...no question on
that

26. With the same precision He
Thought, Worked and Experimented
on Health all his life
* He spent a very considerable time and effort
thinking on health Issues—from Early Youth to
South Africa and in India
* He in fact complained that our leaders do not
Pay enough attention to their Health... Gokhale...
* He constantly experimented on Health, Food,
And was Extremely keen on Public Hygiene and
Totally Meticulous on Cleanliness

27. He was in contact with best of the
Scientific authorities of his day
Sir J. C. Bose came and met him (Mum.1924)
Previously (1917), he went to Calcutta to attend
“opening of Bose's research Institute”, and said,
“It was spiritual affair rather than a public show.”
“Thanks to the marvellous researches of ...
Bose...his discoveries are revolutionizing the
accepted...”
Sir C V Raman and Lady Raman come and
discuss with him (1936)
Important scientists such as J. C. Bose, C. V.
Raman and P. C. Ray were put as Members
of the Khadi Development Board

28. Post-graduate Research
'Gandhi Seva Sangh' (1935) was meant for
post-graduate study and thinking and research.
Gandhi suggested that other institutions, mainly
busy with `Action' would not have time
to do this. Gandhi Seva Sangh must study,
understand and investigate the key principles
and basics on `khadi', `charkha', `Ekadasha
Vrata' and such other basics.
It is obvious that Gandhi laid enormous
emphasis on Study, Thinking & Research
and analysing the Fundamentals

29. P. C. Ray and Gandhi
When Gandhi established and created a University,
the Gujarat Vidyapeeth, in 1920,
He invited Dr Prafullchandra Ray, the well-known
chemist, to come and inaugurate the same
ANY POLITICIAN OR FAMOUS STATESMAN
WOULD HAVE OBLIGED HIM, BUT IT IS
INTERESTING THAT HE THOUGHT OF A
SCIENTIST
Dr P. C. Ray came over and did the Inaugural...

31. Was Gandhi
aware of
The Amazing Universe
The Profound Puzzles that it brings
&
Future Directions
and
New Perspectives Emerging

32. The Universe
The visible Universe is made of Stars and
Galaxies
Each Galaxy contains 400 to 500 Billion Stars
Universe has Billions of such Galaxies
Universe is Expanding
NOW, WE FIND THAT THE UNIVERSE
ACCELERATES!

35. Gandhi & the Universe
“...this Universe which is millions of times vaster
than the earth...”
“..and what are we in this mighty Universe? We
are less than...And what about the magnificent
canopy of heaven...”
“if...heavenly bodies do not work like machines,
the Universe would come to a standstill...”
“..like atom in this Universe..our existence as
embodied beings is purely momentary...”
“..An all pervading, conscious Power fills our
Universe which we call God...”
“...If we carefully observe and examine the
Universe, we shall see that...”

36. “...As in the body so in universe. The body ever
dies, yet lives. Similarly the Cosmos as
expressed in the creation ever dies yet remains
alive..”
“...that talent which can see the Universe in an
atom...”
“..there is an orderliness in the Universe, there is
an unalterable law...over the will of every
man...so that none of us can wrong the
Universe...”
“..would befall the universe if the sun became
capricious and went in for a variety of pastimes..
there is a monotony that sustains...”
“..A man of world can as little comprehend the
Universe as a fish living in the ocean can fathom
its depths...”

37. The Universe
“There is an orderliness in the Universe,
there is an unalterable law governing
every thing and every being that exists or
lives. It is no blind law; for no blind law
can govern the conduct of living beings.”
HE APPEARS TO BE AWARE OF THE
VASTNESS AND INFINITE NATURE OF THE
UNIVERSE
Of course, as is well-known, Kakasaheb has
written wonderful articles on Nature, Aakash-
darshan, Stars, sky-watching, astronomy

41. WOULD GANDHI BE INTERESTED IN
TELESCOPE? YES !!
WELL, HE USED TELEPHONE
Probably he would also be interested in the
Space Telescope TODAY,
because just as he analysed his
own life in Microscopic detail, in the same
way, he had a Telescopic vision and always
wanted and tried to see things faraway.
HIS COMMENTS ON MODERN CIVILIZATION
EXACTLY SHOW THAT

42. The Amazing Universe
He was always interested in knowing about New
Discoveries and Developments in Science
He was aware that we need
New Eyes to See the Universe
He also looked aware on the Deep relation of
Human Mind and the Universe
He did not say why bother about Universe
-Do We not have enough problems on Earth?-

44. “I KNOW NOTHING OF THE SCIENCE OF
ASTROLOGY AND I CONSIDER IT
TO BE A SCIENCE, IF IT IS A SCIENCE, OF
DOUBTFUL VALUE, TO BE
SEVERELY LEFT ALONE BY THOSE
WHO HAVE ANY FAITH IN
PROVIDENCE.”
AT THE SAME TIME,
Totally Against Blind Faith

45. Criticized strongly the Lack of Research
in Ayurveda
His dialogue with Vaidyas continued for
a while and he strongly emphasized that we must
not just have Blind Faith in all that is “Old”
and all that is “Traditional”
He emphasized the need for
Research and Investigations
again and again,
Be it Khadi, Ayurveda or any
any other discipline

46. International Connections with
Scientists and Philosophers
Madam Curie's daughter, Eve Curie meets
Gandhi (1942), Gandhi reads the Madam Curie
book, and has the following to say: “Vah to Sacchi
tapaswini thi. Muze hota hai, Paris jake uska ghar
dekh aau. Hamare kisi vigyani ne aisa dukh nahi
bhoga...Hamane to Angrezo ki maherbani se
Angrezo ke dhang se kam karana hi sikha.
Shodh vibhag aadi ke Safed Hathi khade kar liye.
Itana paisa kharch hota hai. Itani badi
prayogshala e Tata ne, sarkar ne khadi ki, par
kam vaha par kitana hota hai?”
(From Sushila Nayar, `Karavas ki Kahani')

47. His affection to Scientists and
the Scientific Method
Sushila Nayar says: “Madam Curie ki kitab se
to bas Bapu chipak gaye hain. Is kitab ki lekhika,
unki ladaki Eve Curie Bapu se milane Delhi main
aayi thi. Bole, us ladki se muze aachhi jan-
pahechan karani thi...syam ko muz se bole,
Tuze is kitab ka Hindi main sunder anuvad
karana hoga...”

51. Gandhi-Einstein Correspondence
The two greats never met, but have had an
exchange of letters where they deeply
appreciated each-other's work
Einstein writes to Gandhi in 1931, when he
was in UK, “...your work shows to the world
that goal can be achieved without violence...
I hope to meet you in future..”
Gandhi replies to him in Berlin, “...its a matter
of great satisfaction that you found my work
useful...look forward to meet you, that too in
India, in my Ashram..”
THE GREAT RESPECT TO EACH OTHER
IS OBVIOUS

52. From his statements on the Universe, his
comments on the Scientific Method, his
Contacts and Conversations with
Important Scientists of his time, it appears
that
He was aware of this Global Perspective
He did not want to see cosmos in a fragmented
way
&
Was aware of our place in this vast Universe
and
Our great Ignorance on Universe and its
Basic Laws

53. Similarly, Gandhi believed in such a
Holistic
and Global approach to Human
Health and Well-being
He was not a Single-track person,
Health and Health Care was such a
Global issue for him, connected
closely with Human Well-being...

54. What would Gandhi say on Today's
Health-care Systems?
** Well, perhaps He would have said: “Place the
Humanity First and Money the Last !!”
** He would have said: “Go back to Nature—
Intervene Only when Inevitable...”
** He would have said: “In Sickness, Allow the
Body to Heal itself, Do not Go on Putting in
Unnecessary Drugs...”
** HE WOULD HAVE PAID UTMOST
ATTENTION TO RESEARCH AND
INNOVATION
** Narayan Hridayalaya – Shri Gunavant Shah

55. His Emphasis on Nature Cure
* The Human Body is derived from the Elements
Of Nature – Earth-Water-Air-Light-Space- Gandhi
said We must use these as much as possible to
Heal the Body
* Then Only, if Needed, One could go to Medical
Treatment – But Not Otherwise- According to
him, majority of ailments could be healed
through
Nature Cure
*Only 15-20% would need Medical Intervention or
Medical Surgery- and He was Open to that...

56. But even in Life and Death situations,
Morality was Supreme for Him
* Extending Life by Hook or Crook was not every
thing for him... In fact, He thought Death is a
Friend, and not an Enemy!
* He was willing to Die for the sake of Principles,
As is well-known...
** THE CRUCIAL POINT IS, HE HAD FULL
FAITH IN NATURE AND HE WAS ENTIRELY
FOR FEARLESSNESS
* His remarkable Letter to Kasturba from Jail... “I
will be very Happy if You die This Way...” On
reading this you will surely say, “Vande
Mataram...Bande me hai Dam!!”

59. Surveys tell - Gandhians Live Long
and Healthy Lives... Free from
Disease and Medicines
* Basically, He believed that Disease is an Unnatural
Condition, brought about by Our Own Unhealthy
Ways of Living and Behavior...
* If you follow Correct Set of Principles and the
Correct Ways of Life, by and large, you will live a
disease-free and Healthy Life...
* Fearlessness and Internal Freedom offers you Best
of the Health – Both of Body & Mind...

60. Of course, He was against the Culture
of lots of Hospitals and Doctors,
making it all into a Big-Business !!
* More and more of Hospitals and more and more
Doctors (and Lawyers) meant Decay of the Society to
Him...
* He believed We should not need so many of them!
Because...
True Health emerges from Healthy Habits, Healthy
Living, Healthy Environment, and a Healthy
Approach to Life – and Not from Very Many
Doctors and Hospitals...

61. Environmental concerns featured always
very strongly in his work and writings, even
though he never used this word explicitly.
Today, he would have criticised the Modern
Culture of Polluting Machines even much
more strongly!!
He would then have launched a Major
Environment Protection Movement of an
absolutely International Magnitude, using all
currently available Modern Communication
Tools!!
HE WOULD HAVE PERHAPS LOVED THE IT
AND NANO REVOLUTIONS, CALLING THEM
`NON-VIOLENT SCIENCE' COMPARED TO
ROCKETS AND NUCLEAR, AND WOULD
MAKE THEIR FULL USE!!

62. IN LIGHT OF ALL THIS
DISCUSSION... HERE IS A
SUGGESTION
** Can we not call all these Hospitals differently,
As Health Care Centers, or still better, as
HEALTH CENTERS only ??
** “Jaslok Health Center”, or “Kokilaben Ambani
Health Center” looks much better to me!! The
Word `Hospital' does NOT have a very Positive
Meaning in the Society or to a Common Man...
** Let us not treat Patients as Objects for Money-
Making- They should be given Love and Taught
Healthy Life Style...

63. Gandhian Science
&
Gandhian Cosmology
A deeper Dialogue
and Thinking on the
Gandhi's Way of Looking at the Universe
This Is the right time and ripe time to do it in
an
International and Global Way!!
LET US DO IT...

64. 
Man & the Universe

There is the Smallest
World of Atoms from
our Scale -and there
is the Vast Universe
around us..

What is our Place in
the Universe?